HCS SB 480 -- STATE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS

SPONSOR:  Shoemyer (Quinn)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Special Committee on
General Laws by a vote of 6 to 5.

This substitute renames the Second State Capitol Commission the
Missouri State Capitol Commission and requires it to evaluate and
approve capitol studies and improvement, expansion, renovation,
and restoration projects to be paid for with funds appropriated
from the Second Capitol Commission Fund which is renamed the
State Capitol Commission Fund and initiate planning efforts,
subject to appropriations, for a centennial celebration of the
laying of the capstone of the State Capitol.  Members of the
commission representing the General Assembly must be appointed by
the President Pro Tem of the Senate and the Speaker of the House
of Representatives.

The substitute also establishes in statute the Missouri Board on
Geographic Names within the Office of the Secretary of State.
The board must:

(1)  Receive and evaluate all proposals for changes in or
additions to names of geographic features and places in Missouri
to determine the most appropriate and acceptable names for use in
maps and official documents of all levels of government;

(2)  Make official recommendations to the United States Board on
Geographic Names on behalf of the state with respect to each
proposal and assist and cooperate with the federal board in
matters relating to names of geographic features and places in
the state;

(3)  Assist in the maintenance of a Missouri geographic names
database as part of the national database;

(4)  Maintain a list of advisers who have special interest and
knowledge in Missouri history, geography, or culture and consult
with the advisers on a regular basis;

(5)  Develop and revise state priorities for geographic records
projects following guidelines of the federal board; and

(6)  Submit an annual report to the General Assembly on its
activities.

The board is allowed to apply for state and federal grant
programs for the purpose of determining the condition and needs
of geographic records and to solicit or develop proposals for the
preservation of geographic records and publications of the state.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2010, FY 2011, and
FY 2012.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the board will help create
databases of important features useful to homeland security and
for map makers.  Geographic names must be standardized for many
purposes including legal property descriptions.

Testifying for the bill were Senator Shoemyer; and Missouri Board
on Geographic Names, Office of the Secretary of State.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Missouri House of Representatives
95th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated November 17, 2009 at 9:26 am